Seattle Times: "Vote fresh"

Eli Sanders (SLOG):

Is there some thread of consistent logic running through the Seattle Times endorsements this year? Something that would help explain today's endorsement of Susan Hutchison for King County executive?

The one-word answer: fresh.

While the Times likes incumbent city council president Richard Conlin because his "experience will be helpful" given two untested candidates for mayor, the paper is otherwise in a "throw the bums out" sort of mood.

Jesse Israel "brings a fresh perspective" and so gets the nod over council incumbent Nick Licata.

Wilson Chin will be a "fresh voice" on the School Board, the paper says, as will Kay Smith-Blum, who has a "refreshingly high level of energy."

And, of course, the problems of King County "cry out for fresh leadership" and require a vote for Susan Hutchison, with her "host of fresh ideas" and her promises to bring in a "fresh staff."

Can one presume that Tim Eyman and Larry Stickney and Gary Randall all neglected to bring Mentos to their meetings with the paper's editorial board? Would we otherwise have been reading about I-1033's "fresh brand of tax relief" and R-71's "refreshing reminder that gays and lesbians don't need equal rights" as well?